To ask how EXACTLY you have lost weight?

[twoblackdogs]

There are so many threads with the New Year resolutions, weight loss discussions, advice and probably lies as well - so many words, so many things.
I have finally reached that point from which there is no turning back. I will do this, no matter what, but - please, help me. Those of you, the heroes who have really done it - please, name 3 main things that finally helped you to get rid of that weight.
Please.

I did 5:2. Worked wonders. I dont do it now but I'm still losing.
I developed a salsa addiction. Low calories and moreish. Sometimes I'll eat tha and crackers instead of a main meal.

Your body gets used to less food or certain types of foods.
As a rule, stick to foods that resemble their natural state.
Sugary carbs are not your friend.

I've lost 4 stone from March - July on Fast800...

Track everything on MFP.

Drink 2+ litres of water a day

Less than 60g carbs a day.

Job done & I didn't feel hungry past the first 2 days. Going back to it Jan 1st as I want to lose 1 last stone!

Slimming world, 2 stone in 17 weeks and counting!

I just don't eat. I eat vegetables, sometimes. I fast a lot.

Keto here too.

No calorie counting, no hunger.

Apart from weight loss, I have also noticed:
my asthma has gone away
better sleep
alcohol no longer exerts a magnetic appeal
cognitive benefits

Keep yourself busy so you're not thinking about food all the time.

OurPath program. Basically low carb, incr protein and veg, minimal fruit. Lots of exercise.

Create a calorie deficit, simple. Follow James Smith PT on Instagram.

Running. Couldn't manage 500 yards when I started, but kept at it, run/walking for the first few months. I discovered I really enjoy running, it helps my mental health hugely too. And it changed my eating habits also - I stopped craving sugary treats so much and found it easier to regulate my eating.
Weight gradually dropped off and has now been stable for years. I don't have to diet and deny myself treats, but I don't generally have the desire to overdo them either.
Parkrun is a great way to start if you are thinking about it.

I have hereditary insulin resistance tendency, so losing weight has always been extremely tricky while putting it on too easy

It was not until I twigged that higher insulin was my issue, did I actually lose weight long-term and maintained. Essentially you eat in a way which does not spike insulin: leave longer times between meals to allow insulin to drop (ideally 5-7 hours between meals), avoid any snacking as spikes insulin. Total ban on added sugar and flour. Very spare with sweet fruit and root veg. As much cheese, nuts, eggs, meat/poultry, veg as you like. You will never feel hungry!

Build your muscle mass as it helps clear glucose from your blood stream and lowers the production of insulin.

High insulin guarantees the inability to lose weight. Fasting is very very effective at lowering insulin.

I no longer have the enormous appetite, I don’t suffer energy slumps any more, I sleep loads better, my memory is better, my thinking is faster and clearer.

Ignore the eat less, move more brigade. You shouldn’t constantly be making Herculean efforts to stay slim. Just be smart and exercise for health, not vanity or “weight loss”. Understand the “why” behind your food choices, a calorie is not a calorie, food affects our bodies in different ways. Capitalise on it. Harness it. Make it work for you.

Down 2 sizes two years ago and effortlessly maintaining. I exercise twice or once a week now (kettlebells typically) and eat lower carb. No alcohol, no sugar, no snacks. I am never hungry. It is not a diet, it is my (not so) new normal. I will never go back to eating pastries and chocolate. It is a disaster for my insulin resistance inclined body. Once you break the addiction to carbs, it is so freeing, fantastic!

You don’t get obese by eating more and moving less. Some people eat more, move less and never get fat, why is that??? It is serious physiology, with insulin as the main actor.

Good luck, don’t beat yourself up, it is not your fault your body works in the way it does. Outsmart it! Work with what you have got, not some other person who can drop one biscuit a day and lose 3 stone. Find what works for you, for life. Diets are no good, they all fail eventually, as soon as they are stopped in fact.

Opposite of low carb here - extremely low fat for medical reasons (gallstones) and absolutely no cheating. The fact that if I cheat I could put myself back in hospital (24 hours of agony followed by a week in hospital) concentrates the mind!

Eating 2 eggs for breakfast, then v light lunch, training 30 mins (swim/bike/run) at least 30 min 6 days a week and normal (big) dinner. Lunch = yoghurt, fruit and a protein bar.

Logging everything in My Fitness Pal and my Garmin smartwatch for keeping track of my exercise. It talks to My Fitness Pal and calorie allowance is adjusted daily depending on activity.

It’s not rocket science, just being aware of what you eat.

I lost my baby weight by tracking calories through myfitnesspal and sticking religiously to 1400 cals/day.

Exercise is great but don't eat back your exercise calories as a rule.

I still track my calories but I'm at my goal weight so I do it to maintain, rather than with a weight loss goal in mind. Myfitnesspal can calculate what your maintenance intake is once you reach your goal weight.

I have a fitbit, which is great for prompting me to move more and I like tracking my steps, but be warned that it will massively overestimate how many calories you are burning, so take wearables with a pinch of salt.

I weighed myself at the start (im about to start again and this time i did measurements too) and weekly to keep track.

Stopped snacking during the day. It was amazing how well i did just from cutting out biscuits and treats at work.

Porridge and blueberries for breakfast, and a salad (no dressing) with a banana for lunch.

Dinner was more of a portion control thing. We got in the habit of cooking, serving and then freezing the rest rather than subconsciously eating double what we needed. Measuring things like rice etc

exercise i do something light like weights at home, youtube workout videos, pilates etc

Less fruit. No dairy. Reduced wheat.

A combination of things. using my fitness pal to log all food and exercise. Ate broadly low carb. Very careful with minimal snacking. Practically no booze. Exercise at least 3 times a week, mostly running, cycling, circuits, some Pilates.
Kept it off for quite a while, but it was pre kids. And unfortunately don’t now have the time or energy for that much exercise. Nor time or headspace to plan meals and snacks so meticulously, when getting the kids fed half decent food that they will eat seems the higher priority.

For me being realistic about my goals was very important, as I needed wins. So I walked more,to gently ease into exercise and did it every other day for at least 20 minutes. Then gradually I added in, quicky daily 10 minutes.
Foodwise I controlled my portions and ate less carbs overall. I did not buy junk, switched to online shopping to avoid temptation.
I also made a deal with myself to put money in a jar, everytime I wanted something 'bad'.
It took me about a year to lose over 4 stones and I have kept it off. I still eat the things I enjoy, just less often and smaller portions.
I have also conditioned myself to eat only expensive chocolate, so a box of Neuhaus is pretty much a treat(I saviour 1 piece at a time). I absolutely love all chocolate but for me any cheaper chocolate is like a gateway that opens up to all other chocolates.

I rediscovered Viscouts this year, bought a pact and devoured the whole lot in one go. And this why, I don't buy cheaper stuff because I truly mean when I say I love the lot but my waist/health doesn't!
Good luck with it all Op, even if you slip carry on and take it all one step at a time.

Three things

1. Reading the Scarsdale Diet (for general principles)
2. Weighing myself every day and recording progress
3. Massively increasing lean protein and green vegetables, banning everything else.

I lost 24kg and have kept it off consistently for 5 years.

Mental health. I need to not have many daily negative thoughts about myself due to my weight.

Got rid of all or nothing mentality. Eating something I enjoy but that is heavy on calories does not mean I say screw it and load up for days(weeks). I can eat something enjoy it and move on.

Long term thinking. Not minute by minute. It’s a lifetime not a mealtime. Small changes might be easier than a grand plan of doing all the things.

Basically - calorie fucking deficit. However you achieve it. Something will fit the bill for you that is sustainable for the weight loss period.

Then monitor and don’t let it slide up past 10lbs. Forever.

Exercise. Eating less carbs

There’s no big weight loss thing. It’s just consuming less calories than you eat. It’s that simple.

For me it was ebf. I’m 6 months postpartum and weigh 50.4kg, I was 52kg Pre pregnancy. It’s crazy how much calories you burn breastfeeding. I also try do “body attack” class once a week and that’s intense. But I still eat a lot of processed crap and need to step up my game with eating more veg

Intermittent fasting (basically eating less!). I think different 'diets' work for different personalities - you just gotta find what suits you. It's all calories in V out. Best of luck

Fitbit & MyFitnessPal

Logged (honestly) everything I ate and drank and aimed for a 1000 per day calorie deficit to give an average 2lb week weight loss.

I did 11500 steps a day minimum, but usually 15-18000.

I chose not to eat bread/potatoes/white rice/pasta and ate more protein instead as it keeps me fuller for longer.
No alcohol or fizzy drinks.

Weighed myself every day. A lot of people choose not to do this but I found the ever decreasing numbers very motivating. Small gains (usually ovulation/period related) didn't bother me as I knew if I stuck to the plan then a loss would soon follow.

Good luck!

Portion control (buy smaller plates!), low sugar, no wheat, cardio 3x a week for 45 mins (I run but any will do)